James Delahunty
18 Apr 2009 20:15
The BBC has explained the limitations that will be enforced by digital rights management (DRM) with regard to recording from its High-definition broadcasts. The information follows the launch of the Panasonic Freesat Blu-ray recorders. The DRM will allow users to make one personal copy of HD content (after recording to the PVR) to a Blu-ray disc, but copies of that disc cannot be made afterward.
"It will now be possible to make a single HD Blu-ray copy of one of our programmes, although not copies of copies. An HD connection to a protected home network will also be possible, although an HD connection to the Internet or portable devices will not work..." said Danielle Nagler, head of BBC HD, in a blog post.
He continued: "...Partial unlocking of some paths should also enable the high quality standard definition RGB outputs from some set top boxes". In the future, it will be possible to make a copy of the content to a compatible portable device too.